Getting Your Paint Smooth as Glass: The No-Nonsense Guide to Clay Barring (Feb 2026)

Never, ever clay a car in direct sunlight, especially in an Aussie summer. If the panels are hot, the lubricant will evaporate instantly and you'll mar the paint. If you haven't got a garage, wait until the arvo when the sun's lower.

Do the wheels first. You don't want brake dust splashing onto the clean paint later. Use a dedicated wheel cleaner and brushes.

Blast the car down with water to get the loose grit off. If you've got a foam cannon, use it. Let the soap dwell but don't let it dry.

Wash the car thoroughly using the two-bucket method. Be meticulous, any dirt left behind will be picked up by the clay and dragged across the paint.

While the car is still wet, spray your iron remover on. Let it sit for a few minutes (it'll turn purple). Rinse it off thoroughly. This saves you heaps of work with the clay bar.

I usually dry the car about 80% of the way. You don't want it bone dry because you're about to use lube anyway, but you don't want it dripping.

Take your clay bar and cut it into 3 or 4 smaller pieces. If you drop a whole bar, it's garbage. If you drop a small piece, you've still got spares. Knead it into a flat pancake about the size of three fingers.

If it's a bit stiff, dunk it in a cup of warm water for a minute. It makes it much easier to work with.

Work one small area at a time, maybe 40cm x 40cm. Spray a generous amount of clay lube. Don't be stingy here; lubrication is the only thing preventing scratches.

Gently place the clay on the lubricated surface. Using very light pressure (just enough to keep it under your fingers), slide it back and forth in straight lines. Never circles.

You'll hear a 'scritch-scritch' sound initially. That's the clay hitting the contaminants. As they are removed, the sound will stop and the clay will glide silently.

After a few passes, look at the bottom of the clay. If it's brown or grey, it's working. Fold the clay over itself to reveal a fresh, clean surface and flatten it back out.

Wipe the area dry with a clean microfibre. Run your hand over it (or use the 'plastic baggie' trick, put your hand in a sandwich bag and feel the paint). It should be smooth as glass.

Move to the next section, overlapping slightly with the one you just finished. Keep the panel wet with lube the whole time.

Don't forget the windows and headlights. Clay works wonders on glass, especially for getting rid of water spots and road film.

Once the whole car is done, give it a quick rinse with water to remove any leftover clay residue or dried lube.

Dry the car completely using a dedicated drying towel or a leaf blower if you've got one (keeps the drips out of the mirrors).

Put your remaining clean clay back in its container with a quick spritz of lube to keep it moist.